Introducing – Michelle Hay
Kia ora koutou and ¡hola a todos!
It is a great honour to join the wonderful Garin community as a teacher of Spanish. I’m new to Nelson and very excited to explore this beautiful region while working alongside a fantastic group of staff and students.
I was born and raised in О̄tautahi Christchurch, and I love to travel and explore other languages and cultures. Places I’ve been include: Mexico (5 months in total), Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, China (6 months teaching English), Australia (lived in Melbourne for 5.5 years), Japan, Thailand (3 times!), England, Scotland, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Canada (lived in Toronto for 1 year), the USA, Bahrain, Dubai, Spain, Fiji, Cuba, Vietnam, Singapore, and The Philippines. In addition, I spent this summer completing a Scholarship programme in Chile, creating cultural connections through language, surfing, and volunteering in a children’s home.
I have a BA(Hons) in Spanish, Linguistics, and English Literature, as well as a Certificate of Arts in Māori and Indigenous Studies. I love bringing the excitement of the Spanish speaking world into the classroom while weaving through Mātauranga Māori and the values of Ako (reciprocal learning) and Manaakitanga (respect, generosity, and care).
Muchas gracias, ngā mihi nui,
Michelle